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PANNEBAKKER FAMILY NEWS
N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E P A N N E B A K K E R F A M I L Y A S S O C I A T I O N
J U N E 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E 1 4 - 1
Discovering My Pennypacker HeritageDeb James, pen name for Family Association member Deb Moller, celebrates and shares her discoveries, mistakes, questions and surprises on her family history journey.
My visit to Pennypacker Mills was full of surprises. One of the biggest came just as I entered the property. I saw a large sign with a picture of the Montgomery County Commissioners, welcoming me to Pennypacker Mills. This historic site is supported by the county. I hadn’t expected a local government would operate such a large historic site.
I haven’t ever been that close to politics, but I was on the board of my neighborhood association for years. I remember one of the City Councilors talking to me about a major street project that would dramatically increase traffic through our area, likely bringing to an end the early and fragile revival of the neighborhood. He explained that people called him about barking dogs. A lot. But people rarely called him about major projects or policy changes that would change a neighborhood for years to come. Nope, barking dogs.
I’d been dodging monster potholes throughout my short drive to the homestead that morning. I was taken aback by the number and depth of the potholes I encountered. I was worried I might blow a tire in my rental car, and knew what a hassle that would be. I knew the epidemic of potholes had probably been caused by the freakishly hard winter. Still. . .
I’m guessing that potholes and barking dogs have a lot in common. The county commissioners probably hear a lot more about potholes that they do about more far reaching issues. If you are trying to sleep at night, a barking dog is a big issue. If you are trying to drive to work without damaging your car, potholes are all you can think about.
Here is what I imagine. From the time the Pennypacker Mills site was purchased by the county in 1981, the line of Montgomery County Commissioners who have served since then have probably heard a lot about potholes. And at least a time or two, when a constituent was complaining about potholes, they might have made the observation that the Commissioners should take the money they spend on that nice but not necessary Pennypacker Mills place and fill some darn potholes with the money they could save. I’m also guessing that voices speaking up for posterity aren’t as loud, urgent or angry as the voices talking
Pennypacker Heritage 1
Obituary 2
President’s Message 3
PANNEBAKKER FAMILY NEWSabout potholes! (Though from meeting Montgomery County residents, I have to say these folks seem much more dedicated to preserving the past than I am used to!)
Stephen Covey talks about how hard it is to focus on what is important, rather than what is urgent. I know I spend too much of my life reacting to what is urgent, and it takes me a lot of effort to make sure I pay attention to what is important. Urgent things shout at me, important things barely whisper. Potholes and barking dogs are urgent, Pennypacker Mills and family history trips are important.
I’m trying to do my part to convey my gratitude for what the elected officials and people of Montgomery County have done in preserving Pennypacker Mills. I joined Friends of Pennypacker Mills while on my trip, and I’m sending a letter to the County Commissioners to tell them how important what they are doing is. Hopefully it will help balance out all the calls I know they are getting about potholes this year!
See pictures from Deb’s trip as well as tips on how to make your own family history trip on Deb’s web site at:http://pennypackernews.weebly.com/
Page 2
Martha Marian Hackney, wife of Rev. Dr. Albert M. Pennybacker, Jr., died Monday, September 9, 2013, at the Richmond Place Rehabilitation and Health Center. The cause of death was her Alzheimer's illness and its consequences.Her family is especially grateful for the quality of care its staff provided. Besides her husband of 62 years, she is survived by her children: Dr. Susan Dabney Pennybacker (Prof. James A. Miller), Chapel Hill, NC; Janet Pennybacker Scott, Lexington, KY; David W. Pennybacker (Laura W.), Rowlett, TX; her grandchildren Wynston M. Penny-‐backer and Spencer N. Pennybacker, Rowlett, TX; a chosen daughter Dr. Sherri Phelps (Ronaldus Van Uden), Lexington, and her Harvey cousins. She has been preceded in death by her parents Dr. and Mrs. F. Russell Hackney, of Chattanooga, TN. Mrs.Pennybacker's education included Bright School and Girls Preparatory School, both of Chattanooga, and George Peabody Teachers College of Vanderbilt University, Nashville. Her B.S. degree is in Early Childhood Education. She taught at the Peabody Demonstration School's kindergarten, the _irst grade in Can_ield, OH, the preschoolprogram of the Hathaway Brown School, Shaker Heights, OH, and the Carolyn Teague School, Fort Worth, TX. Much of her life has been focused on being a homemaker. She also was engaged with public issues and frequently served as a community volunteer, always with an interest in children. She worked in the Head Start Program of the Cleveland, OH, public schools, the pre-‐kindergarten program of the Fort Worth Independent School District, the Child Study Center of Fort Worth and as a freelance children's storyteller. She collected children's literature, with a special interest in the life and work of Beatrix Potter ('Peter Rabbit'). Her church activities re_lected her personal faith commitments: teaching Sunday School in each congregation Dr. Pennybacker served as pastor: Central Christian Church, Youngstown, OH;Heights Christian Church, Shaker Heights, OH; and University Christian Church, Fort Worth, TX. In Lexington she again taught at Central Christian Church. Additionally she was a member of the Christian Women's Fellowship and active in its Circles 8 and 15. She maintained a life-‐long commitment to Church Women United. She has had an active interest in social issues, local and global, both in church life and in the larger world. With her husband she participated in the international assemblies of the World Council of Churches, beginning in New Delhi, India, in 1961. With her three children she took part in the Poor People's March in Washington in 1968. Her interest in the performing arts found expression in part in her own acting roles in community theater. She served on the Board of the Fort Worth CommunityTheater. In Lexington she has been a member of the National Society for Arts and Letters, and supportive of the Lexington Philharmonic, the UK Art Museum and the Kentucky Theater. In addition to her interest in her own familyhistory, she served as volunteer staff to the Shaker Historical Society. She has followed with interest the work of the Kentucky Humanities Council, especially its Chautauqua program. A memorial service honoring her life will be at 10am Saturday, September 14, at the Central Christian Church, with Rev. Dr. Michael Mooty, presiding. Reserved seating will be
Obituary
PANNEBAKKER FAMILY NEWSPage 3
Message From The President
Pannebakker Family Association Web Site If you would like a user name and password, you must contact Bruce Pennypacker at, [email protected] and the necessary information will be sent to you.Below is the URL for the web site:
http://www.pannebakkerfamilyassociation.com
Greetings All.
Really great to see our membership sticking with us. We have lost a few but still have 114 members of Honorary, Regular and Seniors. Thank you again for your loyalty. Just a reminder to send your dues to Marcy if you haven't.
We have been a bit underwhelmed by the lack of response to the request that you advise us as to whether to publish a list of members so you might be able to 'pick the brains' of near relatives. The list would only be circulated among those members who advise us they are agreeable to it. So far there are only 14 on the list.
We have arrived at the beginning of summer. As I write this (first day of summer) was a bit disappointed the furnace came on last night to warm the house. Here I thought heating season was over. On the plus side, garden is up and doing well. Now if I can just get our there and get the weeds out. Mosquitoes are vicious. and I am a bit intimidated. I heard two them discussing my fate. First one asked if they should eat me there or take me back to the hangout. Second one suggesting staying here so the big ones don't take me away from them. I have been staying close to home.
Had a pleasant visit with an international submarine friend and his wife from Rockingham, Western Australia. They are visiting the USA, coming into San Francisco, going on to Seattle and then on to Rapid City, SD and on to here for 4 days. Had a ball and showed them the sights around here. Got them to the airport on Sunday morning for the flight to NYC. They are visiting in Washington DC currently and then on to South Carolina to visit another submariner and then to Las Vegas and back to San Francisco for their flight home.
Hope all have a wonderful summer and also hope the mosquitoes don't get you. Ron Mitchell, President
provided for Disciples of Christ ministers and spouses as well as for present and past members of Circles 8 and 15. A graveside service at Chattanooga Memorial Park (Memorial Drive, Chattanooga) is planned for 11am Monday, September 16. Visitation will be 4-‐7pm Friday at Milward-‐Broadway. Memorials to Best Friends, Christian Care Communities, 516 Maryland Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, the memorial fund of Central Christian Church, Lexington, and the memorial fund of First Christian Church, Chattanooga.
The officers of the PFA wish to extend our regrets and condolences to the friends and families of the departed.
Officers President: Ron Mitchell N202 County Road B Kewaunee, WI 54216-9520 Vice President: Linda Millerick751 Monterey Salinas Hwy.Salinas, CA 93908-8953Secretary: Marcea P. Kligman 4170 Summit Way Marietta, GA 30066-2346 Treasurer: Bill McNeary 601 East Cypress Street Charleston, MO 63834 Membership:Sandie Miller255 Shoreline DriveColumbia, SC 29212-8024Newsletter: Bruce Pennypacker 201 Shady Brook Drive Langhorne, PA [email protected] (215) 380-1748
Board of Directors Susan Costantini, Royersford, PA Patricia Journeay, Lyons, CO William Pannapacker, Zeeland, MI Jack Pennybacker, Decatur, AL Bruce Pennypacker, Langhorne, PA Patricia Rutins, Arlington, VT
The Pannebakker Family Association is an outgrowth of the family reunion held at Pennypacker Mills, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on July 2-4, 1999. The reunion celebrated the 300th year wedding anniversary of Hendrick Pannebecker and Eve Umstat, in Germantown, Pennsylvania in the year 1699.In the words of the Steering Committee of the reunion, “We hope that the 1999 Pfannebecker-Umstat Reunion will lead to the growth of a family association, which will provide a forum for conversation, collection and preservation of information, and a sense of lasting community among the heirs of this rich cultural heritage.”
Pannebakker Family AssociationEditor, Pannebakker Familie Niews 201 Shady Brook Drive Langhorne, PA 19047